What British Railways.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11755, 4 October 1902, Page 7

What British Railways.

The railway returns for the United Kingdom covering 1901 show that at the end of the year there were 22,078 milos open for traffic, an increase of 'A&6 miles in the year. The total number of passengers carried (exclusive, of season ticket holders) reached 1,172,395,900., an increase of 30.119.314, while the weight of goods and minerals conveyed was 415,.953,441 torn a decrease of 8,976,072.. The ped-eejita^e of net receipts to the capital was last year 3.27, rather smaller than in 1900, and, in fact, it has been a constantly diminishing factor since 1890, when it was 4.10. In that yeai" the per-, centage of Avroking expenditure to gross receipts was only 5-4 ; it is now 63. An interesting table is given showing the length of Iliac at each gauge now open. The vast proportion is>, of course,' of the standard gauge of 4 feet 8J? inches, that accounting for 18,728 miles. What is known ts the broad gauge of § feet 3 inches, howeycft claims SJ77I miles. The rest must ba regarded more or less as fr.eaks, except, perhaps, ti^e 43? miles which run on a gauge of 3 feet, a very handy width for light railways. Still there are 50 miles at 1 foot jl£ inches, and a varying number at eight other gauges until the standard is reached. A noto records that the Listowel and Ballybuniou railway Is on a sirgle elevated lino of nine.mites. This apparently is the onl/ monorail now working.

Spain holds the record for cheap working of her railways. Only 48 per cent, of the gross' earnings are spent in management.

An ex-N-ew Zealander, writinfj on August 23, from Joha,n^esb.ui#, io a friend in fjhrHichiir.eh, 'says;—" People are flocking into Capetown and Durban at the rate of 700. to 1000 with, every . steamer. There will be some great, distress before it-^L a-U over. Advisa every man you know i:w|jia coma here. £103 in New Zealand is infinitely better tliaji £200 here. Long's Hotel,'•where I am staying at present, is £1 per day, and no redaction for weekly or permanent boarders. You can get boar I alone, however., at £g 10s per week, but rooms are at a prohibitive price—£4 ■:. week for a single room a* a non? too fashionable cr select show. All payments in advance. I am not exaggarating in the slightest.— Press.

ROVER BICYCLES set the fashion for world.—Rover Cycle Depot-, H. J. A. Randrup, Manager.